Italian Vegas

Possibly not the best time to be planning an extended stay across there but most of the trouble seems to be in Bangkok, which I’ll only be flying through and visiting.

However with all of the current BS going on over there it’s making me a bit anxious about booking flights across. I mean for starters right now you can’t even fly into Bangkok! Anti-government protesters have taken over the 2 main airports and are vowing not to leave until the Thai Prime Minister resigns which is unlikely. Looks like the Thai police will have to remove them by force over the next few days which will probably be violent and messy.

Oh, almost forgot this guy… what a legend… “A maverick Thai general who has threatened to bomb anti-government protesters and drop snakes on them from helicopters has been reassigned as an aerobics teacher, the Bangkok Post said on Friday.” Ahhh Linky

BBC Thai protesters braced for battle
BBC Bangkok Protesters fire upon rivals
SSNL goes to Thailand

For the past week or so I’ve been sorting things out to move over to Thailand early January. There are a bunch of players from 2p2 heading across and we’re planning on renting a few nice houses and living like kings for a few months. Seems like a no brainer to me… hot weather, beaches, nightlife, tourist stuff and thai girls!

Final Pot: $1785.50
Hero shows:
CO shows:

Awesome cartoon my bro sent me. Awesomely sick humour… I’m sure some people will hate this

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=BhPw2adDcVo

$2/$4 No Limit Holdem
Converted at weaktight.com

Interesting spot on the river. At the time I thought his range was super polarised to a set, but looking back on it TcKc and TcAc are in there too. Still think a bet/call is best as sets aren’t value betting if checked to. I keyed 333 then thought 222 might look a bit more blockery and he might shove over to try to fold my AA/KK. In heinsight I probably prefer 333, meh.

Shipped my new biggest pot tonight, deep tables rule!

Flop: ($46, 3 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $31, CO raises to $83, SB folds, Hero calls $52

Hero wins $1740.10 ( won +$877.30 )
CO wins $41.90 ( lost -$862.80 )

Stacks:

Pre-flop: ($6, 5 players) Hero is UTG

Hero raises to $14, CO calls $14, 1 fold, SB calls $12, 1 fold

Anyways… ship it.

Turn: ($212, 2 players)
Hero bets $144, CO calls $144

River: ($500, 2 players)
Hero bets $222, CO goes all-in $663.70, Hero goes all-in $399.80

The act
The Act prohibits gambling businesses from knowingly accepting payments in connection with unlawful Internet gambling, including payments made through credit cards, electronic funds transfers, and checks. In addition to this US banks will have to put steps in place to prevent customers making payments to internet gambling sites. The banks will have until December 2009 to comply although it’s be expected that most banks will have steps in place way before then.

Not the best news after quitting my job 2 weeks ago but hell at least I can still play. It really sucks for all of the US players who have to suffer because of their spastic government.

Federal Reserve press release
2p2 Poker Legislation folder thread
2p2 NVG thread
2p2 MidStakes panic and flee abroad thread

What will happen?
It kind of remains to be seen really, bit early to tell. There’s a lot of work to be done to put this in place, which won’t happen overnight. A lot of strong American players will probably relocate to Canada or elsewhere to continue playing. With a combination of this and American fish no longer being able to deposit online this will lead to the game onlines getting tougher (again). Stars/FTP should release statements on their stances pretty soon but it’s unlikely they’ll pull out of the US market.

So the act preventing Internet gambling in the USA got passed today and will be in place 1 day before Obama steps into office. If you’re an american player this basically means that you’re fucked, if you’re from elsewhere it means the fre online games are about to get tougher again.

More info on 2p2 here. Also see the Poker Players Alliance.

Tell them:

Your call will make a huge difference and will add the public’s voice to these last minute policy decisions our government is poised to make. We can’t stand idly by while they make decisions that will impact our right to play America’s card free online game. PLEASE CALL TODAY!

Bush’s administration are lining up a bunch of “midnight rules” that they’re going to sneak in just before they leave office. One of these is the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. Instead of waiting until Obama gets into office and spending the correct amount of time exploring the consequences of these new rules they’re going to stuff them into the law at the 11th hour.

If it passes it will cripple poker in the states, having a huge effect on the poker industry and my livelihood as a poker player. If you’re from the US and care at all about this I’d urge you to do the following immediately…

* The federal agencies responsible for our nation’s economy should not be focused on Internet poker regulations.
* Finalization of the UIGEA rules will add additional burdens on our already crippled financial systems.
* Internet poker is a fre online game of skill and form of recreation for millions of Americans; it should be exempted from the UIGEA.
* Please do not finalize the UIGEA regulations until their impact on our banking systems and average Americans has been fully studied.

Please call the U.S. Federal Reserve and tell them not to approve the UIGEA regulations — Consumer Complaints, 888-851-1920 or Public Affairs, 202-452-2955.